E300 Hybrid Reliability Issues

[simonr]

Hi,

Apologies if this post has been covered before, but I am a new member and I couldn't see a search facility on the forums.

My new E300 Hybrid finally arrived two days ago, after a 14 week wait, and I was thrilled with it right up to the point where it broke down yesterday!! I had left it in a car park and it just refused to start, showing the error message 'malfunction' with a battery symbol, which indicates a problem with the hybrid system. I left it for 1/2 hour, and by the time I came back it had fixed itself (temporarily or otherwise).

I have booked it in for a check-up at the local dealer, but I wondered if there had been reported issues with reliability of the hybrid system? A quick google search didn't turn anything up, but I don't want to find that I am a guinea pig for unproven tech which turns out to be unreliable. Not a great experience so far.

Simon

 

[st4]

It is a new model and the 1st Mercedes hybrid, I wouldnt be surprised if there are issues/bugs.

 

[redbaron1973]

It is a new model and the 1st Mercedes hybrid, I wouldnt be surprised if there are issues/bugs.

Not true - the hybrids have been on sale for years in other markets and iirc it is using the same tech as the Infiniti hybrids which again have been proven for years...

 

[st4]

Not true - the hybrids have been on sale for years in other markets and iirc it is using the same tech as the Infiniti hybrids which again have been proven for years...

New to Mercedes...

Diesel engines have been on the go even longer, yet we have cars that cannot inject fuel properly every time a new version of a diesel is released (IIRC OM651)

 

[simonr]

Arrgghh, it has broken down again! 3 days old, and 2 hybrid-related breakdowns.

So far I am really enjoying being a guinea-pig for the new tech. Thanks Mercedes.

Let's hope it is an easy fix, as the next breakdown will be the point at which I hand the keys back.

Simon

 

[simonrip]

E300 Hybrid Problems

Well, my E300 is still off the road more than a week after it broke down. Not only has it not been fixed, but the local dealer hasn't yet managed to identify the problem! He thinks it may be something to do with the hybrid battery pack, but even after the intervention of Mercedes Technical in Germany, there is no solution in sight. He has suggested that it might require a new hybrid battery pack, but obviously I am not going to accept that as a reasonable fault to have on a brand new vehicle.

What is far more worrying is that I have heard from the supplying dealer that the delay in delivery of my car (14 weeks instead of the expected 8) was due to a factory modification / revision to the hybrid battery in these cars. Obviously there was some fault, which clearly remains in my car despite the modifications.

I haven't found anyone else who has reported a problem with their E300, but it doesn't look like I am the only one with the problem - maybe the others are in a different market, which is why they aren't obvious online.

I will update this post if a fault is identified / fixed in case it helps anyone else with the same fault at a later date.

As this is clearly a known issue, within Mercedes at least, they should be doing a lot more to either fix it quickly, or swap the car which is an obvious lemon.

Simon

 

[Xtractorfan]

Good to know these things .. A hybrid has been on my radar now for some time, well more as a passing interest as a future possible...

 

[GottleibDaimler]

I understand that it is frustrating to have a new car off the road so soon, but presumably you have alternative transport, so I don't really understand all the histrionics. Nobody has deliberately broken your car and it sounds like all involved are working hard towards a solution.

As stated, it's the first hybrid Mercedes-Benz built for this market, so teething problems are hardly the world's greatest surprise.

Good luck, hope you get the car back soon.

 

[John Laidlaw]

i may just be lucky, but I have had my E300 Hybrid AMG sport saloon for nearly a year (A service due in 30 days, dash display even offered to dial for a service appointment- clever!), and honestly it has not missed a beat!

 

[John Laidlaw]

in saying that I did post earlier this week on a little 'glitch' when switching between gearbox modes- I am treating that as a one off!

 

[Frontstep]

I understand that it is frustrating to have a new car off the road so soon, but presumably you have alternative transport, so I don't really understand all the histrionics. Nobody has deliberately broken your car and it sounds like all involved are working hard towards a solution.

As stated, it's the first hybrid Mercedes-Benz built for this market, so teething problems are hardly the world's greatest surprise.

Good luck, hope you get the car back soon.

Blimey thats hopefully not the attitude shared by all of MB,
even if its a minority one it may explain many peoples disatisfaction with the dealer experience.

A new car is a big deal for most and expecting it to start is not unreasonable, being loaned a pool car is not a treat.

 

[simonrip]

I understand that it is frustrating to have a new car off the road so soon, but presumably you have alternative transport, so I don't really understand all the histrionics. Nobody has deliberately broken your car and it sounds like all involved are working hard towards a solution.

As stated, it's the first hybrid Mercedes-Benz built for this market, so teething problems are hardly the world's greatest surprise.

Good luck, hope you get the car back soon.

Sorry that you feel I am being melodramatic, but of course a 'niggle' or 'teething problems' feel much worse when you are the one on the receiving end. :Oops:

As it happens, I have a newish VW California camper van which requires a completely new pop-up roof, which is a massive repair job. I am completely unconcerned by that, it is no big deal.

The E300 problem, however, feels very different for a few reasons. Firstly, if a car breaks down after 3 months it is a breakdown. If it breaks down after one day, it is a pre-existing fault. If that fault is a dodgy radio, or a window that won't go down, then nobody is going to worry too much. What if it requires a new gearbox, or hybrid drive, or a partial respray? At that point you could reasonably argue that the car wasn't of acceptable quality, and you would be perfectly within your rights to ask for a replacement car. These aren't budget cars after all.

The dealer has had my E300 for over a week, and has not yet managed to identify the fault. I am confident that the service guys are well trained and pretty good at their jobs, so this suggests that the fault is not a simple or common one.

The current guess is that it is a control unit, as the software update didn't work. My concern is that they may well end up treating a symptom not the cause, if the fault is so complex. The warning lights are on for 3 systems, two of which are safety systems. When the car broke down, it simply shut down, as if I had taken the key out. No warning, no gradual loss of power, just sudden and instant loss of drive. Even on a straight A road that was very worrying. If that had happened in the fast lane of the M40 then it would have been pretty scary. If the dealer is taking so long to find the fault, my confidence is reducing by the day that they will find the fault the first time around. I am understandably concerned about having a fault like this occur again. This isn't histrionics, simply common sense based on the failure to successfully diagnose the fault so far.

I will continue to update this thread in case it helps someone with a similar fault.

Simon

 

[John Laidlaw]

Simon, I think everyone realises this is not melodrama, you have a genuine complaint, which quite frankly you are right, not acceptable. As I said maybe I have been lucky with mine, if I had experienced your issue, probably I'd be asking for a replacement, and be justified. It's hardly 2 weeks! I don't think I recall any other reliability posts on this before, let's hope you get sorted soon, it is a great car (when they work!)

 

[Xtractorfan]

It is quite right and fitting that you should air your views and experiences with all cars.

Had you bought it from a market stall or a pound store then you would still expect it to be of value and work for more than a few days.

 

[simonrip]

E300 reliability problems

Thanks for the support. Yesterday the dealer suggested that the problem was possibly a faulty hybrid battery, which was also the first thing they said 10 days ago. Not very reassuring, and it is safe to assume that a new hybrid battery wouldn't be a cheap part.

I decide to reject the car as not being of satisfactory quality, and have asked for a replacement. I emailed the dealer principals of the supplying dealer and the repairing dealer to inform them of this and have yet to receive even the courtesy of a reply from either of them. That's not how I would treat my customers in this situation.

Interestingly a friend at a finance company told me that he had to reject an E300 with a similar fault last week, so I know mine isn't the only one, although the problem does not appear to be widespread.

If I learn more about the fault, I will post it.

Simon

 

[aycee]

I understand that it is frustrating to have a new car off the road so soon, but presumably you have alternative transport, so I don't really understand all the histrionics. Nobody has deliberately broken your car and it sounds like all involved are working hard towards a solution.

As stated, it's the first hybrid Mercedes-Benz built for this market, so teething problems are hardly the world's greatest surprise.

Good luck, hope you get the car back soon.

Nice response from someone on the frontline of Mercedes customer service!
It's not a teething problem, it's total failure!
No wonder people are voting with their feet!

 

[GottleibDaimler]

Blimey thats hopefully not the attitude shared by all of MB,
even if its a minority one it may explain many peoples disatisfaction with the dealer experience.

A new car is a big deal for most and expecting it to start is not unreasonable, being loaned a pool car is not a treat.

Nor is it a right.

What more does the customer expect, other than all concerned working towards a solution and keeping the customer mobile?

I never understand people who treat their car as anything other than a (nice/desirable/fast/attractive/comfortable delete as applicable) hunk of metal.

 

[Boxbrownie]

Nor is it a right.

What more does the customer expect, other than all concerned working towards a solution and keeping the customer mobile?

I never understand people who treat their car as anything other than a (nice/desirable/fast/attractive/comfortable delete as applicable) hunk of metal.

Any chance of knowing where/which dealers you are at?

We may wish to avoid this kind of attitude after spending 30-60K or more.

 

[st4]

Reject it if you must, but don't get another. E220/E250/E350 are proven and reliable. I know we need early adaptors, but I'd never be one. I prefer proven reliable technology.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Nor is it a right.

What more does the customer expect, other than all concerned working towards a solution and keeping the customer mobile?

I never understand people who treat their car as anything other than a (nice/desirable/fast/attractive/comfortable delete as applicable) hunk of metal.

This is the kind of attitude that customers who have just spent loads of dosh get from the the people whom they keep in business and work..